256 
CHAMOIS. 
\ 
a sound like the bellowing of an ox,, and some- 
times a clearer note. 
The gnu is an inhabitant of the south of Africa. 
It is found chiefly in the districts of Camdebo and 
Agter Bmnfjes-hoogte. Dr. S parr man seems even 
to think that it is confined within those regions. 
The flesh of the gnu is very juicy, and more 
agreeable and nourishing even than beef* 
Chamois. 
The chamois is nearly of the same size with the 
domestic goat. Its neck is slender ; its forehead 
elevated ; its horns slender, black, and upright, 
with the points hooked backwards. Its tail is 
short. Its hoofs are much divided. Its legs are 
long and agile ; but not remarkably slender. Its 
ears are long, erect, and pointed. Behind each 
of the horns, it has a large orifice in the skin of 
the head. The head is rather short on the upper 
of the body ; but upon the sides, the haunches 
the neck, and the belly, long, like the hair of the 
common goat. 
The body of the chamois isTommonly, in spring, 
of a donor ash colour, which changes in summer 
to a yellowish brown, mixed with black ; arid in 
winter, assuming a darker shade, becomes deep 
brown. Its forehead is brown. Its cheeks, chin, 
and throat, with the inner sides of the ears are 
white. A black line runs along the back. The 
belly is yellowish. It is an inhabitant of the Alps 
and the Pyrennees. 
These animals are found in flocks of from four 
to eighty, and even a hundred, dispersed upon the 
crags of the mountains. They do not feed indis- 
criminately, but only on the most delicate herbag© 
they can find. 
